Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21081Assault causing serious harm · Co. Longford · 5 Apr 2022

Patrick Stokes jailed for six and a half years over Longford fast food restaurant stabbing

On 5 April 2022, Patrick Stokes, 28, of Corboy, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, attacked Martin McDonagh with a Stanley knife at Luigi's chipper on Main Street, Longford, during a feud between two Longford families. Stokes later turned himself in to gardaí and pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Mr McDonagh, and to a section three assault on restaurant owner Peter Vocella, who was cut on the thumb or finger. On 9 May 2023 at Longford Circuit Court, Judge Kenneth Connolly reduced a 12-year headline sentence to seven years and six months, suspended the final 12 months for three years, and imposed a concurrent one-year sentence for the section three assault. Stokes was ordered to serve six and a half years in prison, the latest development in the case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced9 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Patrick Stokes pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Martin McDonagh.
  • Patrick Stokes pleaded guilty to a section three assault on restaurant owner Peter Vocella.
  • Stokes stabbed at Mr McDonagh and continued to slash at him inside the restaurant over a couple of minutes.
Where
The attack took place at Luigi's fast food restaurant (chipper) on Main Street, Longford.
When
The attack happened on 5 April 2022.
Cause
  • The attack followed an earlier altercation at a filling station in Longford town that day, in which Mr McDonagh allegedly waved a large stick at members of the Stokes family.
  • Gardaí said the incident was part of a longstanding feud between two Longford families that began 17 years earlier.
Weapon
Stokes used a Stanley knife, described in one source as a Stanley carpet knife.
Other details
  • Mr McDonagh sustained a large number of stab wounds, and a medical report said his injuries could have been fatal.
  • A medical report said a tourniquet applied by the owner and a customer may have saved Mr McDonagh's life, and Mr Vocella was cut while trying to help him.
  • Sources differ on where Mr Vocella was cut, stating either his right thumb or his finger.
Investigation
Stokes turned himself in to gardaí after the incident and cooperated fully.
Charges
A charge of producing an article was taken into consideration.
In court
Sentencing took place at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Kenneth Connolly on 9 May 2023, where the judge noted Stokes's early guilty plea, remorse and willingness to pay compensation.
Sentence
  • The judge set a 12-year headline sentence for the section four assault and reduced it to seven years and six months, suspending the final 12 months for three years.
  • A one-year sentence for the section three assault runs concurrently, and Stokes will serve six and a half years in prison.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStokes pleaded guilty to a section four assault causing serious harm on Martin McDonagh. (rte.ie)
  • whatStokes pleaded guilty to a section three assault on the restaurant owner, Peter Vocella. (rte.ie)
  • whatVocella sustained a cut to his finger during the altercation. (rte.ie)
  • whatPatrick Stokes pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Martin McDonagh. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatPatrick Stokes stabbed at the victim and continued to slash at him inside the restaurant. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe attack lasted only a couple of minutes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Luigi's chipper on Main Street, Longford. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened at Luigi's fast food restaurant on Main Street, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened on 5 April 2022. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe stabbing followed an earlier altercation at a filling station that day. (rte.ie)
  • causeGardaí said the incident was part of a longstanding feud between the two families. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe incident started after an earlier altercation at a fuel station in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe attack was part of an ongoing feud between two Longford families that began 17 years earlier. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponStokes produced a Stanley carpet knife and slashed at Mr McDonagh. (rte.ie)
  • weaponPatrick Stokes attacked Martin McDonagh with a Stanley knife. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationStokes turned himself in to gardaí after the incident and cooperated fully. (rte.ie)
  • investigationPatrick Stokes turned himself in to gardaí and cooperated fully. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeA section three assault sentence of two years was reduced to one year and runs concurrently. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe production of an article charge was taken into consideration. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Kenneth Connolly. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted Patrick Stokes's early guilty plea, genuine remorse and willingness to pay compensation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge set a headline sentence of 12 years and reduced it to seven years and six months with mitigation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fixed a headline sentence of 12 years for the section four assault. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the section four sentence to seven years and six months, suspending the final 12 months for three years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceFor the section three assault, the judge imposed a one-year sentence to run concurrently. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final 12 months for three years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentencePatrick Stokes will serve six and a half years in prison. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMr McDonagh sustained a number of serious injuries during the incident. (rte.ie)
  • otherA medical report said Mr McDonagh's injuries could have been fatal. (rte.ie)
  • otherStokes entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and expressed remorse. (rte.ie)
  • otherMartin McDonagh suffered a large number of wounds consistent with stabbing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe ambulance personnel described the injuries as severe and life threatening. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA medical report said a tourniquet applied by the owner and a customer may have saved the victim's life. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe restaurant owner, Peter Vocella, was cut on the finger while trying to help Martin McDonagh. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherPatrick Stokes has previous convictions, the most recent for production of an article, assault and affray on Ballymahon Street, where Martin McDonagh was also the injured party. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    'I could never feel Longford could ever be a safe place for me or my family', says stabbing victim as attacker is jailed for six and a half years

    Reports the May 2023 sentencing of Patrick Stokes at Longford Circuit Court, including the Stanley knife attack, the feud context, the victim impact statement, and the sentence reduction. No existing case covers this 2022 incident; the existing Patrick Stokes case (4994) concerns a different 2024 stabbing.

    victim, Martin McDonagh, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonaghconvicted, Patrick Stokes, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stokes
  2. 9 May2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed over 'vicious' Longford assault

    Reports the sentencing hearing at Longford Circuit Court on 9 May 2023: Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed a sentence of seven years and six months with the final 12 months suspended, and a concurrent one-year sentence for the section three assault on Peter Vocella. Adds the court details, victim impact statements, the feud background and the defendant's apology.

    convicted, Patrick Stokes, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stokesvictim, Martin McDonagh, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonaghvictim, Peter Vocella, malePeter Vocella